ption.

They had still a distance of eighty-six miles to cover to get back to
Fort Grey, with but little prospect of finding water on the way. After a
long and weary ride they reached it, only to find the tents struck, the
flag hauled down, and the Fort abandoned. The bad state of the water and
the steady diminution of supply had forced Browne to fall back to Depot
Glen, riding day and night Sturt reached the old encampment, so exhausted
that he could hardly stand after dismounting.

The problem of their final escape had now to be resolved. The water in
Depot Creek was reduced so low that they feared there would be none left
in Flood's Creek. If this failed, they were once more imprisoned. Browne,
now much recovered, undertook the long ride of one hundred and eighteen
miles which would decide the question. Preparations had been made for his
journey by filling a bullock skin with water, and sending a dray with it
as far as possible. On the eighth day he returned.

"Well, Browne," asked Sturt, who was helpless in his tent, "what news? Is
it good or bad?" "There is still water in the creek," replied Browne,
"but that is all I can say; what there is is as black as ink, and we must
make haste, for in a week it will be gone."

The boat that was to have floated over the inland sea was left to rot at
Depot Glen. All the heaviest of the stores were abandoned, and the
retreat of over two hundred miles commenced.

More bullock-skins were fashioned into water-bags, and with their aid and
that of a scanty but kindly shower of rain, they crossed the dry stage to
Flood's Creek in safety. Here they found the growth of the vegetation
much advanced, and with care, and constant activity in searching ahead
for water, they gradually increased the distance from the scene of their
sufferings, and approached the Darling. Sturt had to be carried on one of
the drays, and lifted on and off at each stopping-place. On the 21st of
December, they arrived at the camp of the relief-party under Piesse, at
Williorara, and Sturt's last expedition came to an end.

In taking leave of this explorer, we quote a short extract from his
Journal to show the exalted character of the man whom Australians should
ever regard with the greatest of pride:--

"Circumstances may yet arise to give a value to my recent labours, and my
name may be remembered by after generations in Australia as the first who
tried to penetrate to its centre. If I failed in that great o